Cancer Causes and Control
Volume 7, Issue 4, 1996, Pages 464-473

Nevi and migration within the United States and Canada: A population-based cross-sectional study (Article)

Dennis L.K.* , White E. , McKnight B. , Kristal A. , Lee J.A.H. , Odland P.
  • a Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Res. Center, Seattle, WA, United States, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, United States, Dept. of Epidemiol. and Biostatist., Case Western Reserve University, MetroHealth Medical Center, 2500 MetroHealth Drive, Cleveland, OH 44109-1998, United States
  • b Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Res. Center, Seattle, WA, United States, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, United States
  • c Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Res. Center, Seattle, WA, United States, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Biostatistics
  • d Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Res. Center, Seattle, WA, United States, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, United States
  • e Division of Public Health Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Res. Center, Seattle, WA, United States, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Epidemiology, United States
  • f University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States, Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology

Abstract

A survey to ascertain factors associated with benign melanocytic nevi or moles was conducted among randomly-selected White adults (aged 18 to 50 years) in Washington State (United States). Participants of the telephone interview in 1990-91 were questioned about lifetime places of residence and constitutional factors. Subjects counted raised nevi on their arms at the end of the survey. Logistic regression was used to examine the risk for two or more nevi compared with no nevi. Individuals who resided in warmer areas and lower latitudes than Washington State were at higher risk of having multiple nevi. This association held for residence at birth, during childhood, adolescence, and over lifetime: an odds ratio (OR) of 2.3 (95 percent confidence interval = 1.2-4.3) for lifetime average daily maximum temperature of ≤ 64°F compared with 58.9°F, and similar ORs of 2.1 for adolescence and 1.8 for childhood. These associations remained significant after adjusting for potential confounding effects of constitutional factors and for childhood sunburns as a potential mechanism. Risk of multiple nevi was reduced for both early age at migration and longer duration of stay in Washington. These data are consistent with the importance of childhood and adolescent sun exposure in the etiology of nevi, but also suggest an effect of lifetime sun exposure.

Author Keywords

Migration Melanoma Sunlight Pigmentation Age Nevus United States

Index Keywords

Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) Population Surveillance human risk assessment middle aged Odds Ratio controlled study Confidence Intervals priority journal melanoma Logistic Models climate Washington Residence Characteristics Cross-Sectional Studies United States Humans Adolescent male Canada female Risk Factors sun exposure Skin Neoplasms Article Sunburn Nevus, Pigmented major clinical study adult pigmentation migration age Age Factors temperature Emigration and Immigration nevus Body Constitution Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0029954037&doi=10.1007%2fBF00052673&partnerID=40&md5=6b9c1610358d02dea45b620099f3724e
DOI: 10.1007/BF00052673
ISSN: 09575243
Cited by: 16
Original Language: English